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Expunction refers to a legal process where individuals can have their criminal records cleared in. In a perfect world, those with criminal records that have properly served their mandated penalties and obligations should be able to go back living their old lives. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many individuals continue to find it difficult to rebuild their reputations after receiving a criminal charge or conviction due to extreme prejudice.

Fortunately, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provides leeway for these individuals, giving them several options so they may be able to be free of any stigma about having criminal records. The first option is called expunction, and it’s available for individuals that were found not guilty or were acquitted of a criminal offense. Particular circumstances that may allow you to qualify for expunction include the following:

Getting charged of a criminal offense that was eventually dismissed;

Getting convicted for a criminal offense but was eventually pardoned;

Getting convicted for a criminal offense but was later found to be innocent.

The court may also have to look into the specific circumstances of your case in order to qualify for criminal record clearing in Dallas and other places in Texas. For example, individuals that were convicted of Class A, B, or C misdemeanors might still be able to file for expunction as long as they wait out a specified time period before pursuing their petition. Those found ineligible to file for expunction could instead try petitioning to have their criminal records sealed from the public through an order of non-disclosure.

Starting over after receiving a criminal offense can prove to be an uphill battle. Having the tiniest blip on your record could prove to be an impediment from pursuing new employment, education, and financial opportunities. Fortunately, the law provides recourse for these situations. If you think that expunction may help in your rehabilitation, contact an experienced lawyer to learn more about your available options.

The worst consequence of getting involved in an accident without auto insurance, getting your driver’s license suspended or revoked, or being cited for: driving under the influence (DUI); reckless driving; three moving violations in just one year; and driving without auto liability insurance, is getting required by a court to carry an SR-22 filing.

An SR-22 is a certificate which your car liability insurance provider will send to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), informing this agency that you are covered and, therefore, has the financial capability to compensate anyone who you may injure or whose property you may damage in an accident wherein you are at fault (compensation, of course, will not be paid by you but by your car insurance provider).

If you already have insurance coverage prior to being required to carry an SR-22 filing, all you need to do add the SR-22 filing in your insurance policy. However, if you are uninsured, then before you can file an SR-22, you will first need to purchase a car insurance policy.

If you are uninsured and chose to drive without insurance because you find car insurance too costly, then an SR-22 requirement can definitely hurt. First, because an SR-22 will make your car insurance policy still more expensive. Second, because this usually lasts for three years, but can be extended by a judge to five years if you had been required to file it due to a DUI offense. This means paying higher premiums (which you have tried hard to avoid) for three or five years. Third, there is an an SR-22 filing fee (the fee varies by state, but usually falls between $15 and $25).

An SR-22 is the only thing that can immediately lift the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. To continue enjoying your driving privileges, you should never lapse in paying your insurance premium or cancel your insurance coverage altogether, otherwise, your car insurance provider will notifying your state’s DMV about the cancellation of your insurance coverage (since this is one of its legal obligations); this will result to your license getting suspended or revoked again.
According to the website of Second Gear Magazine, even if you had been required to carry an SR-22 filing, finding the policy that will provide you all the coverage you need at a rate that fits your budget is just a phone call away or just requires a few clicks on your computer keyboard.

Independent car insurance firms exist to protect the interests of customers who need to be insured. By providing customers with free online insurance, as well as SR-22, quotes, customers are able to compare policy coverage and prices from a wide range of insurers. Compare, choose and purchase the policy you need and get your insurance ID card instantly via email; this is the same if you need to file an SR-22.

When elders reach a phase in life where more thorough care and assistance are needed, it might be time for the family members to consider moving them into assisted living facilities, according to SeniorAdvice.com. Throughout the years, there is a misconception on what assisted living really is. It certainly is not “locking up” the elderly in a care home, as most people perceive it to be. Assisted living is a community where the elder is helped by the staff in doing their daily activities, such as eating, bathing, and many more. The elderly does not have to be severely ill to be living with assistance. In fact, assisted living is more like an vibrant alternative to the confined nature of staying at home, since it is generally a difficult feat for the elder to move around, go out of the house, and live a normal and fulfilling life at their old age. So, what really are the concepts behind assisted living?

First and foremost, it should be defined what assisted living is not – a nursing home. Assisted living homes do provide medical care, but only minimally. Assisted living facilities do not have in-house nurses and doctors and are not for illness treatment. Elders with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (and without serious medical requirements) are sometimes placed in assisted living because of sundowning, a case where they manifest agitation and confusion late in the day. They would generally need more assistance during that time, and assisted living homes provide and specialize in these services.

Assisted living facilities also have homey centers where the seniors could gather and socialize with each other and feel that they belong in a community. This is one feature of assisted homes that may be a difficult task if the elders stay at their own houses. Transportation is also another feature of assisted living. Elders who need to get to places such as shopping centers and hospitals but are not capable are serviced by the homes as well.

Essentially, as mentioned above, assisted living aims to make the senior feel that his/her life is “normal” and easier despite the complexities that are associated with old age. According to the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), each state provides unique regulations for the senior care industry.

Dehydration and malnutrition are just two terrible types of neglect found in nursing homes. Nursing homes are meant to provide care for an aged family member. When this isn’t the case, the nursing home or individual accountable for damage inflicted should be vigorously pursued for financial compensation. Their wrongdoing should be taken notice, and this compensation should be a supply of justice for the household of the stricken.

Malnutrition is a leading cause of negligence. Frequently in nursing homes, residents are unable to eat without help. In the case a nurse doesn’t help them or there aren’t enough nurses to provide for most of the residents, occupants may suffer from malnutrition. Furthermore, in the event the meals are not providing essential proteins, minerals, and vitamins, or they are served in quantities that were inadequate, elderly are negatively affected. Signs that indicate malnutrition are weight loss , weakened muscles, and debilitated organ functionality.

Another kind of neglect is dehydration. Sadly, this can be among among elderly in nursing homes. Some occupiers are fully dependent on their caretaker; they have to request water or it must be constantly provided by the nurse. If someone displays continuous desire, headaches, dizziness, confusion, or fatigue, they can be affected by dehydration. According to the website of Crowe Mulvey, hazards of dehydration include heat injuries, convulsions, kidney failure, surprise, or brain swelling.

No person ought to suffer from the carelessness of the effects of dehydration or malnutrition because of another. The job of nurses is to take care of their residents; failure to do so ends in severe deterioration of elderly health. Any instance by which an individual or nursing home facility has caused occupants to be affected, they should be held accountable because of their dreadful wrongdoing.

When a traumatic brain injury occurs, doctors declare the level of severity through determining a patient’s score on the Glasgow Coma Scale. The scale is a three part tests that measures motor, verbal, and eye opening responses of the injured. Within each section, points are given to the patient based on their condition.

The motor response section of the test gives up to six points. Points given are based off of the patient’s demonstrated condition: one for no response, two for extensor response, three for abnoral flexion, four for withdraws from noxious stimuli, five for localizes to noxious stimuli, and five for obeys command fully.

Secondly, the patient can receive up to five points for their verbal response. From one to five, they are no sounds, incomprehensible sounds, inappropriate words and jumbled phrases consisting of words, then confused yet coherent speech, and alert/oriented.

Lastly, eye opening is tested on a four point basis. One point is given to no eye opening, two for eyes open to pain, three for eyes open to speech, and four for spontaneous eye opening.

Once points are determined per section, they are added together. Doctors use the total number of points to determine the level of conciousness, which translates to the patient’s level for survival. A mild state is declared for a total score of 13-15, moderate disability for 9-12, severe disability for 2-8, and vegetative state for less than 3. If the vegetative state lasts longer than one month, a permanent vegetative state is declared. The most severe level for a patient’s outcome is when they are declared brain dead, meaning they lack all brain function.

All traumatic brain injuries can be measured on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Once the level of consciousness is determined by a doctor, procedures to take can ensue.

Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer caused by the exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure is common in jobs such as construction workers, shipyard workers, miners and veterans as asbestos was commonly used in building materials and other products. Although the number of ways you can be exposed to mesothelioma, the disease itself is still rare and under researched. Due to this, there is not a reliable cure for mesothelioma and a number of treatments are still being tested.

Before considering treatment options for mesothelioma, after being diagnosed, it is important to find a trusted doctor that is right for your case. The choice can be affected by the stage at which the cancer has progressed, the location of the cancer in the body, and overall age and health of the patient.

If the cancer has not spread outside the chest, surgery can be an option for some patients. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and the surgery either removes the tumor or, in more serious procedures, parts of the lung itself is removed. Most long term survivors of mesothelioma undergo one form of the surgery undergoing radiation after the procedure. Although higher survival rates can be a result of the surgeries, many risks are associated with it. The complication rate of the surgeries is high and can even cause death in the patient. The surgeries do also not guarantee that the tumor will not grow back with some patients’ reappearing after the surgery was performed. It is a risky procedure but as many patients experience success, some of those diagnosed with mesothelioma see this as a viable treatment option.

Chemotherapy and radiation are a common treatment option for those diagnosed with mesothelioma. Chemotherapy uses oral or infusion based medication to kill cancerous cells in the body. The medication may also be directly infused into your lungs, abdomens, or other affected parts of the body. Although it does not provide a cure for mesothelioma, it is associated with a longer survival rate in patients. Radiation is another treatment option that is still being explored and tested for overall effectiveness. Both chemotherapy and radiation do not cure mesothelioma but improve quality of life and pain in the patient. View this website to learn more about mesothelioma and treatment options…

According to American Motorcyclist, there is no overall best motorcycle. When searching for your ideal bike, you must first figure out what you intend to use it for. Someone that enjoys easy riding will need a different bike than someone who wants to go hog wild. Here are some recommendations for you to make an informed decision about which motorcycle is right for you.

A standard is a bike for those that want to do a little bit of everything. These motorcycles make you feel more comfortable and like you have a better sense of control of the bike. Their tip-overs tend to also be less costly. For new riders, be wary of some of the larger standards. They can exceed 100 horsepower, which can sometimes be a lot for an inexperienced rider to handle.

If you want a motorcycle with speed, a sport-bike is right for you. They are usually lighter than other types of motorcycles, making them easier to transport. However, because these bikes are built for speed, their insurance runs higher.

Cruiser bikes are great for people who want a relaxed, smooth ride. These models have low seats and a low center of gravity. Although this is a preference for many people, for new riders the positioning may create some awkwardness at first.

If you want to road trip with your motorcycle, a tourer is your kind of bike. Tourers are comfortable and are made to combat the weather. They also come with integrated luggage to store your belongings in. Tourers are, however, more expensive, but for those that see their distinctive qualities as necessities they are worth the price tag.

Although riding motorcycles is a fun and popular hobby, it is not without risk. A personal injury attorney in Louisville can explain that since motorcyclists have very little to protect them in accidents, their injuries tend to be worse than those involved in regular car accidents,

Clinical trials are supposed to be carried out for any kind of drug before they are sold to the public to determine if they are safe for use, not after. They are also designed to identify certain classes of people or conditions which will be adversely affected by it. This is true for over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs, and it is the responsibility of the drug manufacturer to carry them out. In most cases, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will require these trials prior to approval for use for specific conditions.

In the case of the anti-emetic drug Zofran (ondansetron) produced and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the drug company carried out clinical trials that showed it was highly effective for suppressing nausea associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and post surgery. However, the clinical trials presumably did not go far enough, because recent studies show that it could increase the risk of developing heart arrhythmia. And that isn’t even the biggest problem. The problem is with its off-label use to treat severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). Zofran has been associated with causing birth defects.

Studies were undertaken to prove it one way or the other. The results, however, are maddeningly vague. There are “indications” or “failed to find” results that instead of clearing up the matter for the public, merely muddy up the waters. According to Williams Kherkher’s website about the Zofran lawsuit, it falls on affected patients to come forward and tell their stories in order to gather evidence that will prove the drug does cause birth defects.

GSK has already been made to pay for encouraging the drug’s use for NVP although it was not approved for that purpose by the FDA. However, because GSK insists that Zofran is safe for pregnant women and studies show conflicting results, women continue to be prescribed with the drug for NVP.

If you have been prescribed with Zofran for NVP, and you child had birth defects, you may be able to help. Contact a Zofran lawyer in your area to add your voice to women who have been similarly harmed.

Child safety is one of the paramount concerns of parents, which is why most would make considerable effort to ensure that the products they buy for their children are safe. This includes their food, clothes, shoes, beds, strollers, and car seats. Most would pay a premium to buy brands that have a reputation for strict safety standards. As pointed out on the Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ® website, however, it doesn’t matter what brand your car seat is; if the manufacturer fails to properly test their products before selling them, your child is in danger. As it is turning out, one of these is Graco.

Graco is perhaps one of the more recognizable brands of child car seats and other baby products, with an income of $1.1 billion reported for 2013. The Atlanta-based company was founded in 1942 and was acquired by Rubbermaid in 1996.

In 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Graco was voluntarily recalling some of their most popular models of strollers and car seats because they had a high risk of laceration and fingertip amputation. More recently, Graco again issued a recall for more than 3 million of their harnessed booster and toddler convertible car seats manufactured between 2009 and 2013 for a defective buckle that could be difficult to unlatch in an emergency. Graco claims that no injuries caused by the defective party had been reported.

This claim may be true or not, but as one parent put it, children have been in a constant state of danger for years because the company knew about the defect but failed to warn them about it until recently. Events may also unfold that would reveal that some preventable child injuries and deaths in the past may have been due to these defective car seats.

If you suspect that your child was injured because of a defective car seat or other untested product meant for children, you could be right. Consult with an experienced defective car seat lawyer in your area to discuss your case.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) prohibits any discriminatory acts (based on age) against persons 40 years and older in matters wherein employment conditions or privileges are the issues; these, of course, include hiring, promotion, retention of employment, job assignment, compensation and benefits, training, layoff, and all other employment-related issues. The protection provided by ADEA is intended for both job applicants and employees and the Act itself applies to state and local governments, labor organizations, employment agencies and all private companies with 20 or more employees (this Act also provides protection for US citizens hired and working for US employers overseas, so long as no laws of that country will be violated by the Act).

ADEA offers protection against discrimination based on age as well as against any form of retaliatory acts. This latter protection is also provided by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes it unlawful for an employer or manager to retaliate against an employee who: complains about age discrimination practices in the workplace; files a complaint to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) about a violation on any of the stipulations of ADEA (or other discriminatory acts based on other reasons); or, participates or testifies in an investigation or lawsuit proceedings regarding employment discrimination.

Some of the other types of protection that ADEA provides include:

The non-inclusion of age specification, limit or preference in job advertisements and notices, unless in jobs where age is a bona fide occupational qualification, such as an actor supposed to play the role of a young adult in a film

Strictly limiting inquiries regarding a person’s age (during job interviews) for lawful purposes, such as to determine the possible length of service a person may be able to render. This is applicable in jobs like an airline pilot or bus driver which requires a mandatory retirement age

Prohibition of offensive remarks about a person’s age, which may be construed as harassment (except when such remarks are made as offhand comments or simple ways of teasing and not as insults on the person concerned)

Prohibition on employers to deny older employees the work benefits that they legally deserve. However, since the law recognizes the fact that costs of certain benefits provided to older employees are higher than the cost of same benefits when provided for younger workers, the law allows employers, in limited circumstances, to reduce benefits based on age, so long as the cost of the reduced benefits to older workers and the cost of the benefits provided to younger workers are the same.

With regard to making remarks about a person’s age, the law firm of Cary Kane LLP explains on its website that if such remarks are made too often, leading to the creation of a hostile working environment or resulting to employment decisions that will demote or end the older worker’s employment, then it would be necessary to consult a legal counsel. Having a competent lawyer, to protect one’s rights, becomes more essential if the older employee gets to be asked to sign accept a severance package in exchange for signing a release form.